Wire-clamp.



J. M. GONLEY.

WIRE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1912.

Patnted June 17,1913.

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Witness'es Attorneys TINTTED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

JOHN M. CONLEY, OF. GOLCONDA, ILLINOIS.

WIRE-CLAMP.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. GONLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Golconda, in the county of Pope and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful YVll'G-Clilll'll), of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention appertains to clamps, and particularly to thosewhich are employed for clamping woven wire fences, in

order that a stretcher or other mechanism may be attached to the clampfor drawing the fence taut.

It is the object of the invention to provide a novel and improved clampof this character, embodying two clamping bars which may be clampedtogether over the strands of the fence, the means provided for clampingthe bars together being of peculiar construction and operation in orderto provide a convenient and efficient clamping action.

This invention also contemplates the provision. of a clamp of this classwhich shall be simple, durable, substantial, inexpensive and compact inconstruction, as well as oon venient and eflicient in its use.

To the above and other ends, the present invention resides in the novelconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts here inafter setforth and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the i11 dicated bythe numerals 4E and 5, the same,

being constructed of suitable material, preferably wood and being of anydesired length and cross section. On the inner face of the bar 5 issecured a pair of longitudinal strips or cleats (3, while the inner faceof the bar 5 is provided with a pair of longitudinal grooves 7, whichare designed to receive the cleats 6. This arrangement provides aSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 26, 1912.

Patented June 1'7, 1913.

Serial No. 722,550.

tongue and groove lock between the clamping bars, or a scarfed joint, inorder that when the wire strands are clamped between the clamping bars,they will be held securely t-herebetween, but will not be bentappreciably.

The clamping bar 5 is provided along its length with a series oftransverse openings or slots 8, a series of hooks 9 passing slidablythrough the other bar, and being adapted to pass through the respectiveopenings 8 to engage the outer face of the bar 5. A pair of levers 10are pivoted to the respective faces of the outer end of each hook 9 andare provided with the eccentrics or cams 11 engaging the bar 4, thelevers 10 being fulcrumed to the hook by a rivet or other pivot member12.

A series of bearing plates 13 are secured on the outer face of theclamping bar 4, one of the bearing plates being provided for each hook9, the hooks passing slidably through the said bearing plates and thebearing plates being provided with out struck corrugations 14. The hookspass slidably through the bearing plates 13 directly above thecorrugations 1 1, and the eccentrics bear against the said corrugationsso as to provide an effective operation.

An actuating or operating bar 15 is pivoted between the ends of thelevers 10 by means of the bolts or other pivot members 16, in order thatthe respective pairs of levers may be swung simultaneously.

Means are provided for locking the levers in depressed position, saidmeans consist ing of a stay or link 18 pivoted to the clamping bar 4:adjacent its upper end and provided with a series of apertures 19 atitsfree end, which apertures are engageable with the stud 17 projectingfrom the upper lever 10 on one side. Thus, the stay 18 may be attachedadjustably to the corresponding lever in order to look all of the leversin depressed position, so as to retain the bars ft and 5 in clampedposition as will hereinafter appear.

As a means for swinging the levers 10, there has been provided a handle20, which is forked at its inner end, as designated by the numeral 21,so as to straddle the'actu ating rod 15. The ends of the arms of thefork 21 are provided with hooks 22 and the said fork is adapted to reston a pin 23 carried by the actuating rod 15, the hooks 22 beingengageable with a loop, staple or the like Q-t secured to the outer faceof the bar 4.

In use, it being understood that the clamping bars are separated, itwill be apparent that the clamping bars may be brought together, overthe strands of the fence by inserting the books 9 through the respectiveopenings 8 of the charming bar a, and then ptn'mitting the two clampingbars to slide longitudina ly relative to each other in order that thehooks engage the outer face of the clamping bar 5. When the hooks 9 areengaged to the claniping bar 5, it being understood that the levers 10are all swung upward, in order to permit the ei'igagement of the hookswith the said clamping bar, the said lovers may be depressed in order toeffectively clamp the strands of the fence between the clamping bars.This clamping action is facilitated by IIItIHS of the handle 20, thefork 21. being passe astride the actuating rod and the hooks beingengaged with the loop 2%, so that the fork may seat on the pin 23 orried by the actuating bar. New, by swinging the handle 20 (.lownward,the actuating bar 15 will be depressed so as to swing the levers 1Odownward simultaneously, thus clamping the two bars l and 5 togetherwith great force, and evenly throughout the length thereof. When theclamping bars are sufficiently clamped together, the stay 18 is engagedwith the stud 17 of the upper lever 10, which will lock the relativeparts in position so that the clamp may be attached to a stretcher orother mechanism for the purpose of drawing the fence taut. It will beapparent, that after the stay has been engaged with the upper lever, thelevers cannot be swung, and that when it is desired to release theclamped bars, the stay 18 may be merely disengaged from the said lever10, in which event, the levers 10 may be readily swung upward to permitthe clamping bar 5 to be removed from the hooks E). It is alsopreferable to provide a stop "35 on the actuating bar 15 directly beloweach belt or pivot member 16, in order that when. the levers 10 areswung upward, they will strike the said stops in order to limittheupward niovenient of the levers, as will be understood.

lfrom the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, theadvantages and capabilities of the present invention will be apparent,and it will be noted that the objects aimed atare (,zarried out in asatisfactory manner, the present device providing a desirable one forthe purposes for which it is designed.

lvhat is claimed is:

1. A clamp embodyii'ig two clamping bars,

a series of members slidable through one bar and engageable with theother, a lever pivoted to the outer end of each of the said members andhaving an eccentric engaging the former bar, an actuating bar pivoted tothe free ends of the levers, and a stay pivoted to the former bar andadjust-ably attachable to one of the said levers.

52. r". clamp embodying two clamping bars, a series of bearing platessecured to the outer face of one bar and each having an outstruckcorrugation, a hook slidable through each plate above the corrugation,and through the said barto engage the other bar, a lever pivoted to theouter end of each hook and having an eccentric bearing against thecorresponding corrugation, and an actuating bar pivoted to the free endsof the levers.

3. A. clamp embodying two clamping bars, one having a series of openingstherethrough, a. series of bearing plates secured to the outer face ofthe other bar and each having an outstruck corrugation, a hook slidablethrough each bearing plate above the corrugation and through the saidbar, the hooks being adapted to engage through the said openings of theformer bar, a pair of levers pivoted to the sides of the outer end ofeach hook and having eccentrics bearing against the correspondingcorrugation, and an actuating bar pivoted between the free ends of therespective levers.

at. A clamp embodying two clamping bars, one having a series of openingsthere through, a series of bearing plates secured to the outer face ofthe other bar and each having an outstruck corrugation, a hook slidablethrough each bearing plate above the corrugation and through the saidbar, the hooks being adapt-ed to engage through the said openings of theformer bar, a pair of levers pivoted to the sides of the outer end ofeach hook and having eccentrics bearing against the correspondingcorrugation, an actuating bar pivoted between the free ends of therespective levers, a loop se cured on the latter bar, a pin carried bythe actuating bar, a handle having a fork adapted to straddle theactuating bar and seat on the said pin, the ends of the fork havinghooks to engage the said loop, and a stay pivoted to the latter clamperbar and ad justably attachable with one of the said levers.

In. testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed. my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. C(JYLEY.

ll itnessrs:

War. A. l l nrrnsmn, IDAISY V. IttloCov.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

